The fifth national congress of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association for the 2012-17 term was held in Hanoi on July 10.

Attending the event were Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Vu Xuan Hong, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Tran Dac Loi and Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Kong Xuanyou.

The plan for the new term focuses on the effectiveness of the traditional cooperation between Vietnam and China and a developed friendship between the two peoples.

The congress elected a new executive board, chaired by Party Central Committee member Nguyen Xuan Thang, who is also President of the Vietnam Institute for Social Sciences.

The Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and the Chinese Ambassador congratulated the congress on its success.-VNA